Relations with Trump 'good,' Mexico's 'AMLO' says; floats jobs package for migrants
Relations with Trump 'good,' Mexico's 'AMLO' says; floats jobs package for migrants
By Lukas Mikelionis | Fox News
Published 34 mins ago
Last Update 32 mins ago
Mexico’s new left-wing president on Wednesday said his relationship with President Trump is “good” and promised the two will talk about immigration soon.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, popularly known as "AMLO," is expected by many to become a vocal critic of the Trump administration and come into conflict on immigration issues.
A caravan of about 7,000 migrants is currently residing in Mexico’s border cities, causing financial strain and social problems, while the U.S. remains slow in processing asylum application and detains anyone attempting to cross the border illegally.
Despite Trump’s threats to shut down the border with Mexico, Lopez Obrador said he believes the two sides can agree on development aid to Central America and Mexico in a bid to create jobs for the migrants.
“We are in constant communication, and the communication is good. Relations are good.”
— Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
“We are in constant communication, and the communication is good,” Lopez Obrador said Wednesday “Relations are good.”
“It is very likely that in coming days we will talk with President Donald Trump about this issue in particular, the immigration issue,” he said.
But Mexico’s new president avoided the question whether he will allow the migrants to remain in Mexico while the U.S. processes the asylum claims, a policy proposed by the Trump administration that was struck down by the courts and will likely be determined by the Supreme Court.
Members of the migrant caravan are reportedly getting disillusioned with the process and the U.S. reluctance to grant entry into the country.
Some even stormed the border on Monday, with witnesses observing migrants using blankets and ropes to help climb over the structure separating California from Tijuana, where thousands of migrants have been gathering in recent days.
Other migrants managed to squeeze through a section of the fence on the coastal city's beach, according to Reuters.
Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastélum told Fox News his city cannot continue providing support for the migrants, saying already-stretched city resources have been emptied since the crisis began.
“In those six hours that the border was closed, we lost approximately 129 million pesos,” he said, referring to recent clashes at the border. “That's not fair. How do you think people from Tijuana feel towards those people who are making problems?”
Migrants residing in Tijuana are also suffering and are exposed to health problems, the city's Health Department said last week.
The Associated Press Contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mex...s-for-migrants
